Over the past eight years, I’ve been proud to stand by President Obama's side through every step of this journey.

And tonight, I'll be proud to stand by him one last time in Chicago with the First Lady and with Jill as he makes his farewell address to the nation.

Heading back to Chicago, I can’t help thinking about that night when the four of us were together in Grant Park. November 4, 2008.

We’d received the call conceding the race from our friend and patriot, John McCain. Barack had just finished addressing the nation for the first time as President-elect. The park was just filled with hundreds of thousands of people from all around the city and the country, of every age and background. And then, after Barack’s speech, our families joined us on stage -- two families from different parts of the country, from different walks of life, but with the same values, that had grown so close over the past several months and have stayed so close over the last eight years.

And I saw my mother, Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden, who was 91 years old at the time, walking over to us. She really liked Barack. Always had.

And my mom reached out, grabbed Barack's hand, and said, "It's going to be okay, honey, come with me." And holding both of our hands, she walks us up to the front of the stage. Barack and I look at each other. Here we go.

Together, we took that first step in our journey that has continued until today -- a journey to restore our economy, rebuild the middle class, and treat everyone with dignity.

It was a feeling I'll never forget -- standing out on that stage together for the first time since the overwhelming majority of the American people placed their trust in us. I remember how the tough days on the campaign trail were nothing compared to the tough days millions of families were going through as the economy was crashing and they were losing their jobs, their homes, and their savings. I remember seeing the hope in their eyes, and being reminded that there is no quit in America.

And even though we'd go to bed exhausted every night, we'd wake up in the morning inspired by the millions of people who volunteered, organized, voted, and put every ounce of heart and hustle into something bigger than themselves. It was electric -- something that this country had never seen before. At its core, it was truly a campaign about our conviction that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. That's the history of the journey of our country.

Being asked to be part of this journey was a great honor. Barack and I and our families have formed a real and lasting bond over this incredible experience. During long hours in the Oval Office and Situation Room, during private lunches and quiet moments, I've seen Barack lead this country from economic crisis to recovery to resurgence. I've seen him lead the world not just by the example of our power, but by the power of our example.

I've seen a president who never forgot the core that makes us who we are as Americans -- tough, resilient, but always full of hope and optimism. Just give people a fair chance and they will do extraordinary things.

Eight years later, I hope you’ll join me in Chicago as the President speaks about all we've accomplished on our journey as a country over the last eight years and the work that's still ahead.

Tune in at 9pm ET to stand with President Obama, the First Lady, Jill, and me in Chicago one last time.

Joe

Vice President Joe Biden

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To sign up for health care coverage, visit HealthCare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596. 
 

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You can head to HealthCare.gov to shop for health plans for 2017 -- and get coverage for less than you might think. President Obama explains how:

Don't have health insurance?

If you don’t have health insurance, or if you're looking to upgrade your Marketplace plan, you can easily compare plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace right now at HealthCare.gov. In 2017, most people who get coverage on HealthCare.gov can find a plan for less than $75 a month. And people who shop on HealthCare.gov can choose from an average of 30 plans.

Already covered?

Make sure to spread the word to friends and family who don't have affordable options. Under the Affordable Care Act, America’s uninsured rate has reached a record low, and 20 million adults have gained coverage. But you might know someone who’s looking for the security and peace of mind that comes with quality, affordable health coverage.

So don't wait.

Go to HealthCare.gov today to check out your options and find a plan by December 15 for coverage that starts on January 1, or pass this along to a friend or loved one and encourage them to #GetCovered.

Leaving the military can be challenging for many service members. From worrying about their next career steps, to deciding whether to go back to school, to finding a path forward through the mental and physical wounds of war, veterans face a unique set of challenges in navigating their post-military lives. 

Patrick Holbrook, a young veteran from Hawaii, wrote to the President about his struggles with these fears. As Patrick says, "I wasn't afraid in Afghanistan, but I am horrified at the thought of my future."

When President Obama took office nearly eight years ago, he made a commitment to make sure veterans like Patrick get the care and support they need when transition back to civilian life. And today, we've made important progress. We've cut veteran homelessness in half. We're delivering mental health care to more veterans than ever before. More veterans have access to health care and the unemployment rate among veterans has been cut by more than half since its peak in 2011. And in all 50 states, veterans who have recently transitioned out of the military qualify for in-state tuition at public universities. But President Obama knows there’s more work to do to address the challenges that veterans face — and that the task of serving those who have fought for us will never be finished.

You can read Patrick's letter and the President's response below. And for more information on mental health resources for veterans, visit VA.gov.

Dear, Mr. President

It's late in the evening here in Oahu, and the sun will soon be sinking behind the horizon onto the ocean. I sight that gives me comfort when times are confusing, and peace at the end of a long day. Sir, I was injured in Afghanistan in 2011 it was my first deployment, and my last. I was medically retired from the US Army, and after some discussion with my family moved here to help heal the wounds -- it is slow in coming, but I remain hopeful. I started college when I arrived here it has been a difficult experience, but this summer God willing; I will be a college graduate. It's a funny thing fear, I wasn't afraid in Afghanistan, but I am horrified at the thought of my future. I want to serve my country, make a difference, and live up to the potential my family sees in me. I am scared I think, because I have no plan on what employment to pursue. It is something that is extremely difficult to me, and with my family leaving the island soon; I am truly lost. Sir, all my life I've tried to find what a Good man is, and be that man, but I release now life is more difficult for some. I'm not sure where I am going, and it is something that I can not shake. P.S. I watched your final State of the Union, and I thought it was well spoken. I too dream of a sustainable future for the next generation.

Sincerely,

Patrick A. Holbrook

Read the President's response:

The White House

Washington

Patrick --

Thank you for your thoughtful letter, and more importantly for your service and sacrifice. I can tell from your letter you are already a good man; you just need to find the calling that will express that goodness -- or it will find you. So trust yourself, and remember that your Commander in Chief didn't know what he would do with his life till he was in his thirties!

Barack Obama

Read more letters from veterans to President Obama, and explore all the letters in the Letters to President Obama archive at whitehouse.gov/letters.

The President addressed the nation on the election results and the next steps we can take to come together as a country and ensure a peaceful transition of power. This is something every American should watch -- no matter his or her politics.

"We have to remember that we're actually all on one team…We’re not Democrats first, we're not Republicans first, we are Americans first. We're patriots first. We all want what’s best for this country."

President Obama, November 9, 2016

Read his full remarks:

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. Yesterday, before votes were tallied, I shot a video that some of you may have seen in which I said to the American people: Regardless of which side you were on in the election, regardless of whether your candidate won or lost, the sun would come up in the morning.

And that is one bit of prognosticating that actually came true. The sun is up. And I know everybody had a long night. I did, as well. I had a chance to talk to President-elect Trump last night -- about 3:30 in the morning, I think it was -- to congratulate him on winning the election. And I had a chance to invite him to come to the White House tomorrow to talk about making sure that there is a successful transition between our presidencies.

Now, it is no secret that the President-elect and I have some pretty significant differences. But remember, eight years ago, President Bush and I had some pretty significant differences. But President Bush’s team could not have been more professional or more gracious in making sure we had a smooth transition so that we could hit the ground running. And one thing you realize quickly in this job is that the presidency, and the vice presidency, is bigger than any of us.

So I have instructed my team to follow the example that President Bush’s team set eight years ago, and work as hard as we can to make sure that this is a successful transition for the President-elect -- because we are now all rooting for his success in uniting and leading the country. The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy. And over the next few months, we are going to show that to the world.

I also had a chance last night to speak with Secretary Clinton, and I just had a chance to hear her remarks. I could not be prouder of her. She has lived an extraordinary life of public service. She was a great First Lady. She was an outstanding senator for the state of New York. And she could not have been a better Secretary of State. I'm proud of her. A lot of Americans look up to her. Her candidacy and nomination was historic and sends a message to our daughters all across the country that they can achieve at the highest levels of politics. And I am absolutely confident that she and President Clinton will continue to do great work for people here in the United States and all around the world.

Now, everybody is sad when their side loses an election. But the day after, we have to remember that we’re actually all on one team. This is an intramural scrimmage. We’re not Democrats first. We're not Republicans first. We are Americans first. We’re patriots first. We all want what’s best for this country. That’s what I heard in Mr. Trump’s remarks last night. That's what I heard when I spoke to him directly. And I was heartened by that. That's what the country needs -- a sense of unity; a sense of inclusion,; a respect for our institutions, our way of life, rule of law; and a respect for each other. I hope that he maintains that spirit throughout this transition, and I certainly hope that’s how his presidency has a chance to begin.

I also told my team today to keep their heads up, because the remarkable work that they have done day in, day out -- often without a lot of fanfare, often without a lot of attention -- work in agencies, work in obscure areas of policy that make government run better and make it more responsive, and make it more efficient, and make it more service-friendly so that it's actually helping more people -- that remarkable work has left the next President with a stronger, better country than the one that existed eight years ago.

So win or lose in this election, that was always our mission. That was our mission from day one. And everyone on my team should be extraordinarily proud of everything that they have done, and so should all the Americans that I’ve had a chance to meet all across this country who do the hard work of building on that progress every single day. Teachers in schools, doctors in the ER clinic, small businesses putting their all into starting something up, making sure they're treating their employees well. All the important work that's done by moms and dads and families and congregations in every state. The work of perfecting this union.

So this was a long and hard-fought campaign. A lot of our fellow Americans are exultant today. A lot of Americans are less so. But that's the nature of campaigns. That's the nature of democracy. It is hard, and sometimes contentious and noisy, and it's not always inspiring.

But to the young people who got into politics for the first time, and may be disappointed by the results, I just want you to know, you have to stay encouraged. Don’t get cynical. Don’t ever think you can’t make a difference. As Secretary Clinton said this morning, fighting for what is right is worth it.

Sometimes you lose an argument. Sometimes you lose an election. The path that this country has taken has never been a straight line. We zig and zag, and sometimes we move in ways that some people think is forward and others think is moving back. And that's okay. I’ve lost elections before. Joe hasn't. (Laughter.) But you know.

(The Vice President blesses himself.) (Laughter.)

So I've been sort of -- 

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Remember, you beat me badly. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: That’s the way politics works sometimes. We try really hard to persuade people that we’re right. And then people vote. And then if we lose, we learn from our mistakes, we do some reflection, we lick our wounds, we brush ourselves off, we get back in the arena. We go at it. We try even harder the next time.

The point, though, is, is that we all go forward, with a presumption of good faith in our fellow citizens -- because that presumption of good faith is essential to a vibrant and functioning democracy. That's how this country has moved forward for 240 years. It’s how we’ve pushed boundaries and promoted freedom around the world. That's how we've expanded the rights of our founding to reach all of our citizens. It’s how we have come this far.

And that's why I'm confident that this incredible journey that we're on as Americans will go on. And I am looking forward to doing everything that I can to make sure that the next President is successful in that. I have said before, I think of this job as being a relay runner -- you take the baton, you run your best race, and hopefully, by the time you hand it off you're a little further ahead, you've made a little progress. And I can say that we've done that, and I want to make sure that handoff is well-executed, because ultimately we're all on the same team.

All right? Thank you very much, everybody. (Applause.)

The report also highlighted the progress we’ve made since the launch of the Moonshot. Today, federal agencies are working together to share research – such as the National Institutes of Health using NASA’s research on radiation and its effects on the human body. In the past few months, more than 70 public and private sector commitments have been made to join the fight against cancer – such as IBM, which offered its supercomputer, Watson, to partner with the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to help patients determine specific therapies they need for their cancer treatment. The Vice President said the Moonshot is about all of us doing our part in the fight against cancer.

To learn how you can volunteer to help, visit Cancer.Serve.Gov, and to learn about clinical trials nearby, visit Trials.Cancer.Gov.

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High School Graduation Rate Hits New Record

Today, we learned some great news for education across the country: President Obama announced that our high school graduation rate reached 83 percent -- the highest rate on record. Since he took office, the high school graduation rate has increased steadily, growing by about four percentage points since the 2010-2011 school year (the first year all states used a consistent, four-year adjusted measure of high school completion).

And the 2014-2015 graduation rates released today show progress for all reported groups of students, including students of color, low-income students, students with disabilities, and English learners. Black, Hispanic, and Native American students continued to narrow the gap between their graduation rates and those of their white peers, even as all groups made progress.

In addition to reaching record graduation rates, the country has made real progress to increase educational opportunity and help students succeed since President Obama took office. Learn more about the high school graduation rate and more progress we've made together to help students succeed.

Email from Trey Walk: This is my shot

Ahead of President Obama's speech, Trey Walk, a college student in North Carolina, sent the below message to the White House email list to help announce the news. Didn't get the message? Sign up here for updates.

I'm a 19-year-old studying at Duke University. I’m the same age that my mom was when she made the sacrifice to drop out of college to care for me and my siblings, so that we could have a shot at a better life than she had.

I was born to an alcoholic father and a teenage mother in a rough neighborhood in South Carolina. Growing up in our three-bedroom trailer, I knew that success wasn’t going to come easy for me.

But I had the support of my mom and stepdad, who both worked over 60 hours a week in their manufacturing jobs to save for our education. During the summers while they were at work, they took us to read books at the public library, instilling in us a love for learning.

I also had the encouragement of my elementary school teachers, who looked past the color of my skin and endured my "problem child" attitude because they saw that I had potential and could excel in our school’s gifted programs. And when it came time to apply to college, I had high school teachers who encouraged me to reach for my dream schools.

For me and so many students like me, graduating from high school is a full-circle moment. It’s a manifestation of the unflinching sacrifice that my parents made to get me there. And it’s an affirmation of the American idea that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can build a future better than the conditions you were born into.

That’s why I’m proud to help announce that, under President Obama, more students are graduating high school than ever before -- reaching a record new high of 83 percent.

The truth is, my generation has seen things steadily get better the last eight years. Under President Obama, the graduation rate has gone up for all types of students, and the graduation gap is closing for students of color, low-income students, and students with disabilities. College is more accessible for so many thanks to increased Pell Grants and easier ways to apply for federal financial aid through FAFSA. With the help of financial aid, I’m able to study at a top-tier school without worrying about its costs.

I know that it’s only through the promise of education that my story is possible. That’s why I plan to devote my career to public service so I can work to keep improving our education system. And that’s why I’m so proud to have a president who believes that if we work together, we can ensure that same promise for every kid, no matter who they are or where they come from.

So I hope you’ll join in celebrating all the progress we’ve made for students like me by tuning in to President Obama’s remarks today at 11:25 am ET.

Thanks for listening,

Trey

This week, President Obama kicked off Filipino-American History Month with a special message celebrating the countless ways Filipino Americans have helped move our country forward. Take a look at the President's message:

The White House

Washington

October 1, 2016

I am pleased to join in celebrating Filipino-American History Month and in recognizing Filipino Americans across our country for the many ways they have enriched our society.

An unshakable faith in the promise of America has guided people to our shores since our founding. When they arrived, many of those who first settled here suffered setbacks and faced challenges in their pursuit of the American dream. But with relentless optimism, they held their heads high and laid down their roots—building our country into the beacon of hope it is today.

The earliest Filipinos arrived at Morro Bay, California in the 16th century, and Filipino Americans have long played an integral role in shaping the life of our country. They have been the artists who challenge us, the educators who keep us informed, and the laborers of our growing economy. And throughout our history, they have served as members of our Armed Forces, helping safeguard our Nation and the values upon which we stand.

During World War II, Filipino Americans stepped forward to join our military and fight back the tide of tyranny. Many of these individuals have since petitioned for family members to join them here through our legal immigration system but have waited years to be reunited, even after their petitions were approved. This year, my Administration launched the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole program, which enables certain Filipino-American veterans to request that their family members join them in the United States as they wait for their green cards. For many, this policy will allow loved ones to provide support and care for elderly veterans and their spouses. This program is an important reminder that we must support those who serve our Nation not just in times of war, but throughout their lives. 

As we mark this special month, we celebrate the ways Filipino Americans have lent their unique voices and talents to changing our country for the better. Their immeasurable contributions to our Nation reaffirm that as Americans we will always be bound to each other in common purpose and by our shared hopes for the future.

Barack Obama 

Learn more about the contributions of Filipino WWII veterans.

Read more:

White House Engages Filipino American Leaders

A Hard-Fought Battle: Reuniting Filipino-American Veterans with Family Members

A Historic Celebration: Filipino American History Month at the White House

As twin brothers growing up in North Carolina, our parents gave us a Hi8 video camera in the third grade. We became obsessed with it — when other kids went to summer camp, we’d wander around our neighborhood with our friends, filming our own stories. We made movies about things we loved, like supernatural creatures and fantasy card games. (Yes, we’re “nerds.”)

Of course, looking back, these movies are pretty bad, but it didn’t matter to us at the time. We fell in the love with the idea that, as filmmakers, we could create our own imagined worlds of endless possibility — and take viewers on adventures within those worlds.

So that’s why today, we’re incredibly proud to be here at the third annual White House Student Film Festival to help the next generation of aspiring filmmakers debut their own imagined worlds. For the past few months, the White House has received hundreds of submissions from K-12 students on the theme “The World I Want To Live In” — and today, they’re premiering the finalists.

Trust us, you don’t want to miss these films — make sure to tune in live at 1pm ET to watch their debut.

We got a sneak peek of the films and these students have crazy talent. Their films paint big ideas for the future, like tackling climate change, creating equal education, and making our society more inclusive. When we were their age, were mostly thinking about things like … possessed stuffed animals and shape-shifting monsters. But hey — we all have to start somewhere!

Anyway, tomorrow, at the South by South Lawn festival, the White House will screen the three Official Selections along with appearances by some of the incredible kid cast members from our show, Stranger Things!

This is hands-down the coolest film festival we’ve attended. So join us at 1pm ET, and make sure your friends and family watch, too.

Thanks!

Matt and Ross Duffer
Creators of Stranger Things

P.S. You can get all the details and follow along as tomorrow’s South by South Lawn festival kicks off right here: wh.gov/sxsl.

I came to the United States as a refugee when I was 11 years old. My father was a diplomat and a strong supporter of democracy in Czechoslovakia, so when the Communists took over, we were forced into exile as refugees. In November 1948, we were welcomed to the United States of America.

Becoming a U.S. citizen is the most important thing that ever happened to me. My father said that when we were in Europe during WWII people would say, “We are sorry for your troubles and hope that you have everything you need; by the way, when will you be leaving to go back home?”

But in America, people said: “We are sorry for your troubles and hope that you have everything you need; by the way, when will you become a citizen?”

America resettles more refugees than any other nation because it reflects one of our noblest traditions as a nation: providing support to those who are most vulnerable.

With the world facing the largest mass displacement on record since World War II, it has never been more important for world leaders to follow America’s example and work together to do more to support refugees.

Today, President Obama is hosting a Refugee Summit meeting to encourage more world leaders to step up and make new commitments to support the critical work of resettling refugees and helping them rebuild their lives. You can watch the President’s speech here at 3:35 PM Eastern.

Under President Obama, we’ve increased the number of refugees resettling this year to 85,000 – including 10,000 Syrian refugees. Starting next week, the United States will commit to resettling 110,000 refugees from around the world over the coming year.

And with refugees undergoing the most rigorous screening of any kind of traveler, he’s shown that we can welcome refugees while ensuring our own safety.

As a former Secretary of State, I can tell you that President Obama’s leadership in this global crisis is critical to our national security.

When countries with insufficient resources take in refugees, it creates more instability, not just at the frontlines of this crisis, but around the world. If we were to slam the door in the faces of refugees with certain religious backgrounds, we would defy our history and our principles of pluralism and diversity. As we talk to other nations about what more needs to be done to tackle this crisis, it’s important that President Obama is setting this example.

When I came here as a child, I will never forget sailing into New York Harbor for the first time and beholding the Statute of Liberty. I did not have to face refugee camps or the kind of danger that many refugees endure. But like all refugees, I shared a hope to live a safe life with dignity and a chance to give back to my new country.

Together, we can help refugees rebuild their lives and live with dignity once again.

Thank you,

Madeleine Albright
Former U.S. Secretary of State

To kick it off, we're hosting a roundtable discussion with Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, Director of the Domestic Policy Council Cecilia Muñoz, and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

You can join in right here, or share your thoughts on social media using the hashtags #RefugeesWelcome and #WelcomingWeek.

In a message to the White House email list, Cecilia Muñoz laid out how President Obama has continued to build on our country's rich tradition of welcoming refugees across the globe:

"President Obama believes that we are stronger as a nation when we welcome immigrants and refugees into our communities and harness their skills. This year, we are proud to announce that we have met our goal of welcoming 10,000 Syrian refugees a month ahead of schedule, and we are well on our way to welcoming 85,000 refugees to our shores in 2016. And in 2017, we will seek to resettle 110,000 refugees, increasing the number of people we receive by almost 60 percent over a two-year period."

Throughout the week, we'll be highlighting the voices of refugees and immigrants to honor their courage and resilience and celebrate their contributions to our nation.

Gunnery Sergeant Emir Hadzic is one of those voices. Emir fled the persecution and hostility of his home country, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to become the first Bosnian-American to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps. In a letter to the President, he wrote about how his decision to serve came from wanting to give back to the "goodhearted American people" who welcomed and his family and helping them start a new life.

"The chief factor for me was a feeling of an obligation to repay a debt, as I felt indebted to the American people who welcomed my family and my people to the United States. Goodhearted American people helped us start a new life here free home persecution and hostility. I believe that we have become those Americans too. As the first Bosnian-American in the U.S. Marine Corps, I had the role of a pathfinder was well a good cultural ambassador. I believe that I succeeded."

Check out Emir's full letter below, and stay tuned for more stories throughout the week.

June 2, 2016

Dear Mr. President,

As I bring two decades of military service to a close, I keep reflecting over my time on duty and cannot help but walk away with a mix of pride and humility. Eight deployments, three combat tours, and many friends made, I look back with a sense of accomplishment and gratitude for the opportunity given to me.

I immigrated to the United States shortly before the cessation of hostilities in my native country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many broken peace deals resulted in continued bloodshed and a genocide. However, the Dayton Peace Accord lasted and brought peace. There are many factors that contributed to the success of that peace accord, as there were many factors that contributed toward my decision to serve in the American armed forces. The chief factor for me was a feeling of an obligation to repay a debt, as I felt indebted to the American people who welcomed my family and my people to the United States. Goodhearted American people helped us start a new life here free home persecution and hostility. I believe that we have become those Americans too. As the first Bosnian-American in the U.S. Marine Corps, I had the role of a pathfinder was well a good cultural ambassador. I believe that I succeeded.

Although I am one of many Bosnian-Americans who served in the U.S. armed forces, I am also one of many more Americans of Islamic faith who serve. I want to thank you Mr. President, for “watching our six” during these challenging times in the political discourse. I do thank your predecessors for doing the same in the past. We love God, we love our country, and we love our neighbors too. Anyone who challenges that, deserves to be challenged back. On the global stage, thank you for your steadfast leadership and prudent patience. Thank you for being a man of action when warranted, but also for being a man of peace. I know war and I know peace, and as the ancient saying goes: “War is sweet to those that never have experienced it.” Finally, thank you for being a principled leader as our Commander in Chief whose vision is through a wide lens and an eye on “the big picture.”

I thank God for guiding me along, even carrying at times. I thank America for opportunities it gave me and for opportunities it continues to provide.

As I go home to Saint Louis, forging a new path, I wish you and your family the best as you being a new journey in 2017 as well.

Mr. President,

Godspeed and Semper Fidelis!

Most respectfully and sincerely,

Emir Hadzic

When I was 6 years old, my family fled Laos, a country in Southeast Asia the size of Minnesota. As refugees welcomed by the United States, my parents' wish for their children was to not look back, but to take every opportunity provided in our new homeland to live a happy, fulfilled life.

It wasn't until I was an adult, long after we settled in Virginia, that I learned of the painful past my parents had left behind.

During the Vietnam War, the U.S. dropped more than 2 million tons of bombs over Laos -- more than the number of bombs dropped on Germany and Japan combined during all of World War II. Sadly, the people in Laos continue to feel the tragic consequences, long after the last bomb fell.

Too many of these bombs did not detonate at the time. The war left most of the land contaminated with active, unexploded ordnance (UXO), in the form of cluster bombs, bullets, grenades, and mines. They've taken the lives of over 20,000 Lao -- often a child playing outside, or a farmer who has no choice but to cultivate on contaminated fields.

As a Lao American, I felt I couldn't help but do something. So I devoted the past 12 years of my life to promoting greater awareness of the aftermath of war and to advocating for the resources needed to address its painful legacy.

That's why I'm so proud to say that this week, President Obama became the first U.S. president to visit Laos, where he discussed his work to address this legacy of war and a new path forward to rebuild our relationship with Laos.

Part of my job is to visit with dozens of families in Laos who have lost a child, father, mother, husband, wife or neighbor to a 40-year-old bomb. Just last week, I met five boys who were recently involved in an accident. Their bodies were covered with fresh wounds and stitches that will leave scars for years to come. Fortunately, they survived, but they might not be so lucky next time.

Every day, teams of clearance technicians go out into the fields to detect and safely clear these bombs. It's painstaking work. But in a country that depends on agriculture for economic development, it couldn't be more important.

Under President Obama's administration, and with our advocacy and support from Congress, funding for UXO clearance and support has more than tripled. And today, the President announced additional support.

These critical resources support the teams of clearance workers, as well as additional projects like a national survey to locate unexploded ordnance, support for survivors, and better public awareness on how to avoid these bombs.

When our family left Laos, I never thought I would see my birth country again.

And I never thought that an American president would come to Laos to acknowledge the wounds that we still suffer from a decades-old war while offering resources to build a new legacy of peace.

I am grateful for his leadership and so especially proud today to be American and Lao. 

Kop chai lai lai - thank you.

Related content:

• Roads and Kingdoms: "Obama in the World's Most-Bombed Country: A Q&A with Ben Rhodes"
• "Sabaidii": President Obama Speaks to the People of Laos
• Ambassador Susan Rice: Explaining President Obama's Rebalance Strategy

Kathleen wrote to the President through Facebook Messenger -- a newly launched way for ordinary Americans to send a note to the President. Kathleen, who will be the first in her family to get a college degree, wrote about how President Obama inspires her to make the world a better and more equal place.

Take a look at Kathleen's Facebook message to the President and his response.

Dear Mr. President,

You might not be able to read this, but I do hope it reaches you somehow. I wanted to tell you how much you have inspired and empowered me. I come from a family that is very old-fashioned. When I was younger in my teens I'd say, I can remember many times when I disagreed with my parents way of thinking. They believed that the woman is meant to stay home with the children and the man is meant to work. They believed that women are supposed to be silent and follow commands. I was the opposite and pushed those boundaries in my household often. My father told me often growing up that I should "mind your manners and hold your tongue when speaking to a man." Thanks Goodness I never listened. I always spoke up, always voiced my opinion, and always fought for what I believed. As I got older I started to see the world around me change. People were casting aside old ways of thinking and embracing a new way of thinking. This new way of thinking said that all people should be and can be truly equal and that anyone can be anything with no restrictions. This is a movement I saw start when you became President. You changed the way America thought and looked at the world. You broke barriers that people had been struggling with for generations. And you continue to push against and break barriers for those that will follow behind you. Thank you for that. I am 23 years old now and pursuing an education. I will be the first in my family to get a college degree. And someday, I hope to make the world a better and more equal place like you have. Thank you for all you've done & continued to do, Mr. President. You are blessing and a role model to me.

Here's how the President responded:

The White House

Washington

August 24, 2016

Dear Kathleen:

Thank you for your note, which was the first one sent from Facebook Messenger to reach my desk. When women succeed, America succeeds, and while we have made great progress toward gender equality, we have more work to do to upend old ways of thinking and enact lasting change. My Administration is committed to building a future where girls across our country and around the world are free to live out their dreams.

Thanks again for writing to me. I was glad to hear your story and I hope you're proud of all you've accomplished. As you continue to advance your education, find your voice, and seek out opportunities to make the world a better place, I encourage you to keep speaking up on the issues that matter to you.

Proud of you!

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

To celebrate Women's Equality Day and pay tribute to the trailblazers and suffragists who fought for equality for women and girls, we wanted to share a letter exchange between President Obama and three young women.

Delaney, along with her friends Carrigan and Bree, wrote to the President with a problem: some boys in their neighborhood said that "girls cannot change the world." 

Here is the handwritten letter from Delaney and her friends (complete with some pretty cool stickers). Read President Obama's response -- and make sure to check out Delaney's reaction.

Dear Mr. President

Two boys that are in our neighborhood said that girls can not change the world. I hope you can give us some advice to change the world or to help us standup to the two boys.

from,

Delaney, Carrigan, and Bree

The President's response to Delaney and her friends:

The White House

Washington

December 8, 2015

Dear Delaney:

Thanks for writing to me with your friends to let me know what was going on in your neighborhood. Don't listen to those boys -- girls can change the world, and your letter gave me the sense that you are a strong group of young ladies who will always speak up when things don't seem right.

In the years ahead, remember that nothing is beyond your reach as long as you set your sights high and stay involved in the issues that matter to you Know that our Nation is one where everyone can pursue their dreams and that with hard work, you can accomplish anything you can imagine. I'm confident all three of you have bright futures ahead -- and if any boys tell you otherwise, let them know that their President said they better start recognizing that girls change the world every day.

Your friend,

Barack Obama

Delaney was excited to get the President's response -- here's what she wrote back:

Dear Mr President

I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the letter. I loved the letter it is the best. I got the package and I had no clue what was inside and when I opened I looked inside and saw the letter and I was so happy and excited that you saw my letter and wrote back that I started to cry. I hope I will get to meet you one day because you inspired me by saying girls change the world every day. So thank you for the letter. Your the best!

Your friend,

Delaney

This week is the 100th anniversary of the creation of America's National Park Service, marking a time to reflect on the history of America's iconic landscapes and historical sites, and to take action that will inspire the next century of conservation and historic preservation.

In honor of this anniversary, President Obama is designating the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument -- a site that encompasses awe-inspiring mountains, forests, and waters of north-central Maine.

Learn more about our newest national monument and President Obama's record of conservation:

The new national monument will protect approximately 87,500 acres, including the stunning East Branch of the Penobscot River and a portion of the Maine Woods. In addition to protecting spectacular geology, significant biodiversity and recreational opportunities, the new monument will help support climate resiliency in the region. The protected area -- together with the neighboring Baxter State Park to the west -- will ensure that this large landscape remains intact, bolstering the forest’s resilience against the impacts of climate change.

Today's designation builds on the President's strong record of protecting our nation's natural resources. To date, he has permanently protected more than 265 million acres of America's public lands and waters -- more than any other president in history.

Here's a look at what President Obama has done to preserve the richness of our national parks and public lands for future generations:

• Encouraged every kid to experience our great outdoors, including through launching an “Every Kid in a Park” initiative to provide all fourth-grade students and their families free admission to all public lands and waters for a full year.
• Created heritage initiatives to recognize the cultural history of all Americans through theme studies and designations.
• Created thousands of jobs for young adults and veterans to help better protect, restore, and manage our country’s parks and public lands and waters, including through the establishment of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps.
• Designated national monuments to reflect the diverse stories of Americans including the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument, the Pullman National Monument, the Honouliuli National Monument and most recently, the Stonewall National Monument, the nation’s first National Monument honoring LGBT rights.
• Increased public access to the outdoors for underserved communities with little access to public lands.
• Taken steps to better recognize and commemorate culturally significant sites, including renaming the tallest mountain in North America “Denali” to reflect the heritage of Alaska Natives.
• Increased recognition of the economic benefit of the outdoors, including launching an effort to begin measuring the economic impact of outdoor recreation on the American economy.
• Celebrated 99 victories for wildlife conservation, including more recoveries under the Endangered Species Act than any previous administration, often using public lands protections to restore populations.
• Dedicated unprecedented attention and resources to restoring iconic places like the Chesapeake Bay, California Bay-Delta, Great Lakes and Everglades.
• Reformed energy development on America’s public lands and waters, including implementing new landscape-level planning across the country.
• Defended iconic landscapes and natural treasures, including taking action to block damaging uranium mining around the Grand Canyon and designating Alaska’s Bristol Bay as off limits from future oil and gas leasing.
• Signed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, the most extensive expansion of land and water conservation in more than a generation, which designated more than 2 million acres of Federal wilderness and protected thousands of miles of trails and more than one thousand miles of rivers.

Today, President Obama shared his official summer reading list -- a mix of fiction and non-fiction, including a Pulitzer Prize-winning surf memoir, a psychological thriller, and a science fiction novel. Check out the list:

"Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life" by William Finnegan

"The Underground Railroad" by Colson Whitehead

"H Is for Hawk" by Helen Macdonald

"The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins

"Seveneves" by Neal Stephenson

And in case you missed it, here's what made the cut last year:

"All The Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

"The Sixth Extinction" by Elizabeth Kolbert

"The Lowland" by Jhumpa Lahiri

"Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates

"Washington: A Life" by Ron Chernow

Check out the President's summer playlist.

Watch President Obama's remarks in Atlanta, Georgia

Following the his remarks, the President penned a message to veterans on Task & Purpose: "Keeping Our Covenant With America’s Veterans":

Today at the 95th Disabled American Veterans National Convention, I gave my final major address as President to our nation’s veterans. As I reflect on these past seven and a half years, I want you to know I have had no greater honor than serving as your Commander-in-Chief.

In your heroism we see the enduring spirit of America. It’s through your sacrifices that this country we love remains free and strong. I believe that our nation has a sacred covenant with our veterans – that just as you served to protect us, we have a moral obligation to take care of you and your families when you come home. Working to uphold that covenant has been one of my most solemn responsibilities as president.

Continue reading the President's message on Task & Purpose.

What service means to Carmen McGinnis, a former Marine

Carmen McGinnis, a former Marine who now helps other veterans as a staff member at DAV (Disabled American Veterans), sent the below message to the White House email list. Didn't get the email? Sign up for updates here.

I knew I wanted to be a Marine by the time I was 16.

I was inspired by my uncle, who was a door gunner in Vietnam for two tours. He never really talked about it, but I always knew how proud he was to be a Marine. People told me that I couldn't or wouldn’t join -- but that only made me more determined.

So, on the afternoon of the day after my 17th birthday, I enlisted in the Marine Corps. That day happened to be September 11, 2001.

I was deployed to southwest Afghanistan in 2004 and served as a radar repairman with ballistic missile defense. It was there, just outside of Kandahar, where I injured my back for the first time.

Then, I was accepted into the competitive Marine Security Guard School and served as a guard at American embassies across the world -- throughout that time, my back was injured again and again. I also acquired severe insomnia from shift work and survived a sexual assault that made me feel isolated.

These injuries left me in constant pain. Along with experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, I endured some of the darkest times in my life.

But soon, I found an opportunity that gave me hope.

I took a position at DAV (Disabled American Veterans), an organization that empowers disabled veterans and their families to lead their lives with the full range of benefits available to them. Today, I serve as a National Service Officer, where I get to draw on my own experiences to help other disabled veterans with their recovery, through compassion and empathy.

In this work, I have seen firsthand how President Obama's efforts to serve veterans have made an impact. I appreciate his actions to ensure that the backlog of disability claims and appeals gets addressed. And I personally saw the number of mental health professionals increase in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Addressing mental health for veterans still needs work, but it's better than it was.

That's why I'm proud to welcome President Obama at the Disabled Veterans Convention today in Atlanta, Georgia, where he'll speak about the progress we've made for veterans and the ways we can continue expanding opportunities for our service members, veterans, and their families. I hope you'll watch along with me at 1:35 pm Eastern.

I feel that I've survived what I've survived for a reason: to learn that my real strength comes from helping others. I absolutely love that I get to wake up every day and help change people's lives. Not many people can say that.

Thanks for listening,

Carmen

Carmen McGinnis
Denver, Colorado

Our record on serving veterans and the work ahead

Over the past seven and a half years, the President has maintained a steadfast commitment to serve our nation’s veterans. 

From delivering more health care than ever before, to providing veterans the benefits they have earned in a timely way, to expanding cutting edge research in areas like Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), to helping veterans get the education and jobs they need to succeed, the Administration has an indisputable record of support for our veterans.

Today, the President will announce two new milestones in this effort:

• Since launching a nationwide strategy in 2010 to prevent and end homelessness, the Administration has worked with state and local partners to cut veteran homelessness nearly in half.
• As part of the President’s Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI), 500,000 veterans have voluntarily donated their health data to the future of science and medicine through the VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP), marking a critical halfway point to the goal of signing up one million veterans.

Moving forward, the President and the entire Administration will keep fighting in five core areas of service to our nation’s veterans.

1. Health care

An essential part of this commitment is ensuring veterans receive the health care they need, when they need it. VA continues to make progress in this effort, increasing access to care and ensuring veterans are satisfied with their care.

• VA has dramatically increased access to care for our veterans, completing approximately 57.84 million appointments from June 2015 through May 2016, and completing nearly 97% of the appointments within 30 days.
• VA has increased its total clinical work by 10% over the last two years. That translates into roughly 20 million more hours spent providing care for veterans.
• 90% of veterans surveyed are either “satisfied” or “completely satisfied” with the timeliness of their care.

But there's still more work to be done. Here are just a few ways the VA continues to execute on a number of strategies to increase access to care:

• Expanding care in the community – VA continues to increase options for care for veterans, authorizing 3.2 million instances of care in the community from June 2015 through May 2016, 7% more than the prior year. In addition, VA put forward a comprehensive plan last October to rationalize its various care in the community programs, creating a single program that is easy to understand, simple to administer, and meets the needs of veterans, community providers, and VA staff.
• Increasing clinic hours – Over the last 2 years, VA has increased total clinical work by 10%, which translates into roughly 20 million more hours of care for veterans.
• Getting veterans off wait lists – VA has hosted two National Access Stand Down events at all VA Medical Centers, with the goal of addressing urgent health care needs and getting veterans off of waiting lists.
• Making enrollment easier – In June 2016, VA released a new digital health care application, making it easier for veterans to enroll in VA health care.

Read more.

2. Benefits

Three and a half years ago, nearly 610,000 veterans disability claims were stuck in a backlog waiting for longer than 125 days, and the VA did not have the capacity to keep up with an increasing number of claims. But by transforming internal processes and putting in place a new electronic system to move beyond the archaic paper-based system that was in place, VA has made extraordinary progress. Take a look:

• VA has reduced the disability compensation claims backlog by nearly 90% over the last three and a half years, taking the number from a high of over 610,000 to under 80,000 today.
• A combination of increased productivity and modernized technology has allowed the VA to process a record-breaking 1.4 million claims in the last fiscal year alone.
• Veterans with a pending claim are waiting, on average, 192 days less for a claim decision, from a peak of 282 days in March 2013 to 90 days today.
• VA has put forward an aggressive plan to modernize the appeals process, ensuring that the vast majority of veterans who, today, are waiting an average of at least three years on their appeals, can have a clear path forward within one year.

The VA has taken what steps it can to improve the current claims appeals process, including introducing a new tool to improve internal processing. But what is needed is broad reform, and the problem is only going to get worse until Congress acts. That is why the President is reiterating his call for comprehensive legislative modernization of the appeals process.

Read more.

3. Homelessness

Ending veteran homelessness is a national imperative. And beginning in 2010 with the release of Opening Doors, the nation’s first-ever strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness, the Administration has dedicated itself to this goal. Here's the progress we've made:

• Overall veteran homelessness has decreased by 47% since 2010, and unsheltered homelessness has decreased by 56%.
• Cities and states across the country – from the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Connecticut, to the cities of New Orleans and Houston – have announced that they have put an end to veteran homelessness.
• The First Lady and Dr. Biden have launched the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness, with over 800 city and county officials signing on to end veteran homelessness.

The Administration is also announcing that, later this fall, the First Lady will be holding an event with local officials, non-profits, federal partners, private sector partners, advocates, and veterans to celebrate this extraordinary progress, announce additional milestones in the fight to end veteran homelessness, and underscore the federal, state and local partnerships that have been essential to our success, as a blueprint for this critical work to continue in coming years.

Read more.

4. Economic Opportunity

When veterans return home from their service to our country, we must ensure they have the opportunities and resources they need to succeed. The Administration continues to work to make sure veterans are provided opportunities to fulfill the American dream. Take a look:

•    The veteran unemployment rate has now dropped to 4.2%, compared to a high of 9.9% in January 2011.
•    The unemployment rate for Post-9/11 veterans is 4.4% today, down from a high of 15.2% in January 2011.
•    Since the launch of the Joining Forces initiative in 2011, more than 1.2 million veterans and military spouses have been trained or hired.  
•    In May 2016, the First Lady announced a commitment of an additional 170,000 new hiring and training commitments from 50 companies in the telecommunications, aerospace, and tech sectors over the next five years.

Read more.

5. Education

The President has also made it a priority to ensure veterans and their families have access to the high-quality education they need to succeed. And that starts with the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Since its inception in 2009, the Post-9/11 GI Bill has provided $65.2 billion in education benefits to over 1.6 million individuals. 

• All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories are now providing recently transitioning veterans and their dependents with in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher learning.
• The GI Bill Comparison Tool has received over 3.2 million unique page views with over one million schools searched since it was launched in 2014. The GI Bill Comparison helps estimate GI Bill benefits, research certain school attributes, and compare educational institutions.

Read more.

Transcript | mp4 | mp3

For Muslims all over the world, Eid al-Fitr marks the end of a holy month of fasting and prayer. As President Obama said in his remarks:

"This is a time of spiritual renewal -- a time to reaffirm your duty to serve one another, especially the least fortunate among us. And it’s a time to reflect on the values that guide you in your faith -- gratitude, compassion and generosity. And it’s a reminder that those values of Islam -- which comes from the word salaam, meaning peace -- are universal. They bind us all, regardless of our race or religion or creed, in a common purpose, and that is in our shared commitment to the dignity of every human being."

The President took the opportunity to reflect on the positive role that Muslim Americans have played in American life:

"Today is also another reminder that Muslims have always been a part of America. In colonial times, many of the slaves brought over from Africa were Muslim. We insisted on freedom of religion, in Thomas Jefferson’s words, for, “the Jew and Gentile, the Christian and the Mahometan.” For more than two centuries, Muslim Americans of all backgrounds -- Arab and Asian, African and Latino, black and white -- have helped build America as farmers and merchants, factory workers, architects, teachers and community leaders...

"So let’s be clear: Muslim Americans are as patriotic, as integrated, as American as any other members of the American family. And whether your family has been here for generations or you’re a new arrival, you’re an essential part of the fabric of our country."

He also reiterated the values that we all stand for, "to make sure that no American feels isolated or second-class citizens":

"So on days like this, and on every day, we need to be clear about what we stand for. Muslim Americans -- and all Americans -- have to reject hatred. Muslim Americans -- and all Americans -- have to reject discrimination. Muslim Americans -- and all Americans -- have to answer those who would peddle hate, or suggest that somehow their interpretations of their faith justify violence.

"All of us have those obligations -- whether we are Christian, or Jew, or Hindu, or Muslim, or of no faith at all. We have to reaffirm that in this country, it is our obligation to abide by the law, to look out for each other, to be part of a single community -- and that we can still appreciate our differences and retain those things that are essential to our identities, and still strongly affirm our commitment and our faith in this country.

"We’ve got to rededicate ourselves to make sure that no American feels isolated or second-class citizens. And I especially want to speak to the young people who are here, to make sure that you know that we see you, that we believe in you. And despite what you may sometime hear, you’ve got to know that you’re a valued part of the American family, and there’s nothing that you cannot do."

Learn more:

Read the President's full remarks at the Eid al-Fitr reception.

Read letters to the President from Muslim Americans across the country.

Today, President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration, to retired Lieutenant Colonel Charles Kettles.

Lt. Colonel Kettles distinguished himself in combat operations near Duc Pho, Republic of Vietnam, on May 15, 1967, where is credited with saving the lives of 40 soldiers and four of his own crew members. President Obama described Lt. Col. Kettles' heroic acts that day:

"May 15, 1967, started as a hot Monday morning. Soldiers from the 101st Airborne were battling hundreds of heavily armed North Vietnamese in a rural riverbed. Our men were outnumbered. They needed support fast -- helicopters to get the wounded out and bring more soldiers into the fight. Chuck Kettles was a helo pilot. And just as he’d volunteered for active duty, on this morning he volunteered his Hueys -- even though he knew the danger …

"Around 9 a.m., his company of Hueys approached the landing zone and looked down. They should have seen a stand of green trees; instead, they saw a solid wall of green enemy tracers coming right at them. None of them had ever seen fire that intense. Soldiers in the helos were hit and killed before they could even leap off. But under withering fire, Chuck landed his chopper and kept it there, exposed, so the wounded could get on and so that he could fly them back to base."

Then-Major Kettles returned to the riverbed in several times to retrieve his fellow soldiers, all while facing intense enemy fire and severe damage to his helicopter.

As President Obama said, Lt. Colonel Kettles' selfless acts of repeated valor represent not only the highest traditions of our military, but also one of the fundamental values of this nation:

"So the Army’s warrior ethos is based on a simple principle: A soldier never leaves his comrades behind. Chuck Kettles honored that creed –- not with a single act of heroism, but over and over and over. And because of that heroism, 44 American soldiers made it out that day -- 44 ...

"And that’s one more reason this story is quintessentially American: Looking out for one another; the belief that nobody should be left behind. This shouldn't just be a creed for our soldiers –- it should be a creed for all of us. This is a country that's never finished in its mission to improve, to do better, to learn from our history, to work to form a more perfect union. And at a time when, let's face it, we've had a couple of tough weeks, for us to remember the goodness and decency of the American people, and the way that we can all look out for each other, even when times are tough, even when the odds are against us -- what a wonderful inspiration. What a great gift for us to be able to celebrate something like this."

44 men came home because Chuck Kettles believed that we leave no man behind. That's America at our best. https://t.co/UymO2AaRHg

— President Obama (@POTUS) July 18, 2016

Lt. Colonel Kettles has dedicated his Medal of Honor to the pilots and crew members serving on his team that day.

"I didn't do it by myself. There were some 74 pilots and crew members involved in this whole mission that day ... They did their job, above and beyond. So the Medal is not mine. It's theirs."

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Charles Kettles 

44 men came home because Chuck Kettles believed that we leave no man behind. That's America at our best. https://t.co/UymO2AaRHg

— President Obama (@POTUS) July 18, 2016

Learn more about Lieutenant Colonel Kettles and his service to our nation.

Read President Obama's full remarks at the Medal of Honor ceremony.

Updated July 13, 2016:

Watch President Obama's remarks following the discussion on community policing and criminal justice:

Following the event, the President reflected on the discussion in a Facebook post:

"Black Lives Matter activists. Police chiefs. State and local officials. Latino leaders. Representatives from Baton Rouge, St. Paul, Dallas, and more. Those are just some of the folks who came together today at the White House to talk, to listen, and to forge a path forward. Yesterday in Dallas, I said that in the aftermath of tragedies like we’ve seen lately, we have to be able to talk about our differences. We have to be open and honest -- not just within our own circles, but also with those who offer different perspectives. And that’s what we hoped to do today.

"We discussed ways that all sides of our communities -- activists, police, local officials -- can work together to make sure that we can both protect the peace and our first amendment rights at protests. We talked about how we can effectively police neighborhoods ravaged by violence, improve law enforcement hiring practices, and make sure we’re not asking our police to do too much. And we talked about how, when tragedies do occur, we can act in a way that honors all members of our communities.

"I’ll admit, it was a candid discussion -- challenging at times. But it couldn’t have been more important. Tomorrow, I’ll continue the discussion with a town hall here in Washington -- and I hope you tune in at 8pm ET on the ABC News Facebook page.

"But here’s the thing -- you don’t need television cameras or a room at the White House to hold this kind of discussion. All of us have the power to make change in our own communities. So I want to ask you -- no matter who you are or where you live -- to do whatever you can to foster these conversations and find solutions for your community.

"That’s the path out of moments like these. Not to withdraw, or shout each other down, but to reach out to each other -- even if it’s difficult -- and find some common ground. I know it’s possible -- I saw it happen this afternoon."

This week, President Obama will bring together voices for a conversation on addressing racial disparities in our criminal justice system. Today, he took to Facebook to call on all Americans to be part of that conversation. Read the President's post, then submit your ideas above.

"Last week's tragedies in Dallas, Falcon Heights, and Baton Rouge shook our conscience and left us with more questions than answers.  It’s a week that laid bare some of our country’s toughest, most uncomfortable challenges.  

"But I reject the idea that these issues are somehow too big for us – that America is too divided to find common ground.  As I’ve said, I know that we can honor the incredible courage and service of our police officers – and also recognize the racial disparities that exist in our criminal justice system.  There’s no contradiction there.  And if we are going to come together to solve these problems, we have to understand that.  So we’ll have to talk to each other.  We’ll have to listen to each other.  And we’ll have to see each other as equal parts of the American family.

"That’s why on Wednesday, I'll host a conversation at the White House to discuss how we can move forward together.  We’ll hear from individuals from around the country – civil rights activists, law enforcement, academics, mayors, and more – about ways we can both keep people safe and ensure justice for all Americans.  Because progress is possible.  That’s what we’ve seen through my Administration’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing – and so we’ll share solutions from communities that have already found ways to build trust and reduce disparities.  

"Going forward, I want to hear ideas from even more Americans about how we can address these challenges together as one nation.  That means you.  Whether you're a police officer working to keep our communities safe, an activist marching and organizing, or anyone else, you can share your story and ideas here: http://go.wh.gov/VDPvKz. I hope you do – because that’s one way we can find common purpose and together, we can build a better America."

Learn more:

Watch President Obama's statement on the attacks on law enforcement in Dallas, Texas.

Watch President Obama speak on the fatal shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.

Transcript | mp4 | mp3

The President said that this decision, based on a recommendation from U.S. General Nicholson, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dunford, will allow the U.S. Armed Forces to execute its two narrow missions in Afghanistan: training and advising Afghan forces, and supporting counterterrorist operations against the remnants of al-Qaida as well as other terrorists, including ISIL.

Watch an excerpt of the President's remarks:

.@POTUS just gave an update on the continued U.S. presence in Afghanistan—here's what he had to say: https://t.co/iKNR8TVh0O

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 6, 2016

President Obama on our troop presence in Afghanistan:

"Instead of going down to 5,500 troops by the end of this year, the United States will maintain approximately 8,400 troops in Afghanistan into next year, through the end of my administration. The narrow missions assigned to our forces will not change—they’ll remain focused on supporting Afghan forces and going after terrorists. But maintaining our forces at this specific level—based on our assessment of the security conditions and the strength of Afghan forces—will allow us to continue to provide tailored support to help Afghan forces continue to improve. From coalition bases in Jalalabad and Kandahar, we’ll be able to continue supporting Afghan forces on the ground and in the air. And we continue supporting critical counterterrorism operations."

President Obama on what this decision means for ending the conflict in Afghanistan and for the next U.S. administration:

"My decision today also sends a message to the Taliban and all those who have opposed Afghanistan’s progress. You have now been waging war against the Afghan people for many years. You have been unable to prevail. Afghan security forces continue to grow stronger. And the commitment of the international community, including the United States, to Afghanistan and its people will endure. I will say it again—the only way to end this conflict and achieve a full drawdown of foreign forces from Afghanistan is through a lasting political settlement between the Afghan government and the Taliban. That’s the only way. And that is why the United States will continue to strongly support an Afghan-led reconciliation process and why we call on all countries in the region to end safe havens for militants and terrorists.

"Finally, today’s decision best positions my successor to make future decisions about our presence in Afghanistan.  In January, the next U.S. president will assume the most solemn responsibility of the Commander in Chief—the security of the United States and the safety of the American people.  The decision I’m making today ensures that my successor has a solid foundation for continued progress in Afghanistan as well as the flexibility to address the threat of terrorism as it evolves."

Read the President's full remarks on Afghanistan.

Today, President Obama delivered remarks on the Supreme Court ruling on United States v. Texas, a case which challenged the deferred action policies President Obama announced in 2014. Since the Court wasn't able to reach a decision, the those policies cannot proceed. Here's a quick look at the President's remarks.

President Obama on what was at stake in this ruling:

.@POTUS on today's #SCOTUS ruling on #immigration: https://t.co/zcBWEIT8Ai https://t.co/egpB1r3FEN

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 23, 2016

"Four years ago, we announced that those who are our lowest priorities for enforcement -- diligent, patriotic young DREAMers who grew up pledging allegiance to our flag -- should be able to apply to work here and study here and pay their taxes here. More than 730,000 lives have been changed as a result. These are students, they’re teachers, they’re doctors, they’re lawyers. They’re Americans in every way but on paper.

"And fortunately, today’s decision does not affect this policy. It does not affect the existing DREAMers.  

"Two years ago, we announced a similar, expanded approach for others who are also low priorities for enforcement.  We said that if you’ve been in America for more than five years, with children who are American citizens or legal residents, then you, too, can come forward, get right with the law, and work in this country temporarily, without fear of deportation. 

"Both were the kinds of actions taken by Republican and Democratic Presidents over the past half-century.  Neither granted anybody a free pass.  All they did was focus our enforcement resources -- which are necessarily limited -- on the highest priorities:  convicted criminals, recent border crossers, and threats to our national security."

On the Supreme Court's failure to reach a decision:

Watch → @POTUS on why today's #SCOTUS decision sets us back even further
on immigration reform: https://t.co/kdrhQQbPiS

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 23, 2016

"Now, as disappointing as it was to be challenged for taking the kind of actions that other administrations have taken, the country was looking to the Supreme Court to resolve the important legal questions raised in this case. Today, the Supreme Court was unable to reach a decision. This is part of the consequence of the Republican failure so far to give a fair hearing to Mr. Merrick Garland, my nominee to the Supreme Court.  It means that the expanded set of common-sense deferred action policies -- the ones that I announced two years ago -- can’t go forward at this stage, until there is a ninth justice on the Court to break the tie.

"I know a lot of people are going to be disappointed today, but it is important to understand what today means.

"The deferred action policy that has been in place for the last four years is not affected by this ruling. Enforcement priorities developed by my administration are not affected by this ruling. This means that the people who might have benefited from the expanded deferred action policies -- long-term residents raising children who are Americans or legal residents -- they will remain low priorities for enforcement. As long as you have not committed a crime, our limited immigration enforcement resources are not focused on you."

On what's next for immigration reform:

"Most Americans -- including business leaders, faith leaders, and law enforcement, Democrats and Republicans and independents -- still agree that the single best way to solve this problem is by working together to pass commonsense, bipartisan immigration reform.  

"That is obviously not going to happen during the remainder of this Congress. We don’t have is a Congress that agrees with us on this. Nor do we have a Congress that’s willing to do even its most basic of jobs under the Constitution, which is to consider nominations. Republicans in Congress currently are willfully preventing the Supreme Court from being fully staffed and functioning as our Founders intended. And today’s situation underscores the degree to which the Court is not able to function the way it's supposed to.  

"The Court’s inability to reach a decision in this case is a very clear reminder of why it’s so important for the Supreme Court to have a full bench. For more than 40 years, there’s been an average of just over two months between a nomination and a hearing. I nominated Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court more than three months ago. But most Republicans so far refuse to even meet with him. They are allowing partisan politics to jeopardize something as fundamental as the impartiality and integrity of our justice system. And America should not let it stand."

On why immigration is not something to fear:

“Immigration is not something to fear…What makes us American is our shared commitment to an ideal” —@POTUS: https://t.co/9P7ZJ312W0

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 23, 2016

In the end, it is my firm belief that immigration is not something to fear. We don’t have to wall ourselves off from those who may not look like us right now, or pray like we do, or have a different last name. Because being an American is about something more than that.

"What makes us Americans is our shared commitment to an ideal that all of us are created equal, all of us have a chance to make of our lives what we will. And every study shows that whether it was the Irish or the Poles, or the Germans, or the Italians, or the Chinese, or the Japanese, or the Mexicans, or the Kenyans -- whoever showed up, over time, by a second generation, third generation, those kids are Americans. They do look like us -- because we don't look one way. We don't all have the same last names, but we all share a creed and we all share a commitment to the values that founded this nation. That's who we are. And that is what I believe most Americans recognize."

Read the President's full remarks.

Stay tuned for more about what this ruling means for families and our immigration system.

The ABA is one of the largest and most respected nonpartisan legal organizations in the country. With today's statement, the ABA joins a multitude of respected public leaders and legal experts from across the political spectrum who agree that Chief Judge Garland has a record of judicial excellence and should serve on the Supreme Court.

By giving him its highest rating, the American Bar Association confirms what we all know: Judge Garland should serve on the Supreme Court.

— President Obama (@POTUS44) June 21, 2016

Read the ABA's statement on Chief Judge Merrick Garland.

In the ABA's evaluation of Chief Judge Garland, it conducted interviews with hundreds of individuals in the legal profession and community who know Judge Garland. Here are some representative comments from those interviews:

On Judge Garland's integrity

“Judge Garland is a person of highest integrity, as reflected by his record of some 30 years of public service, including 19 years as Circuit Judge.”

“I do not know a finer person than Judge Garland. He is very solid, has the utmost integrity, and is a totally scrupulous, kind and generous person. It is hard to find a nicer person.”

“You cannot find anyone with greater personal integrity or anyone more dedicated to public service.”

“He exudes integrity and has an ideal judicial temperament, both on the bench and in his written work.”

On Judge Garland's professional competence

“His analysis is always very thorough and he is known as someone who puts in long hours, typically about 10 hours a day. He is a perfectionist in his written work.”

“Judge Garland is obviously brilliant but lacks arrogance and that is refreshing. He deserves a well-qualified rating. What makes him ‘uniquely well qualified’ is that he has tried cases as both a prosecutor and as a defense attorney. It is an important qualification for service on the Supreme Court for an individual to have tried cases on both sides and to be comfortable dealing with the facts and the law from both perspectives. The fact that Judge Garland has tried real cases makes him unique. He writes thoroughly reasoned opinions whether you agree with them or not.”

“Judge Garland has the attributes that would make him a superb Justice. He is remarkably intelligent, fair-minded and dedicated to the public good. He has a background that superbly equips him for the Court - a distinguished academic record, significant experience in private practice and exemplary service in the Department of Justice. His decisions as a judge on the DC Circuit call to mind the record of the legendary Judge Friendly on the Second Circuit, and that is remarkably high praise, indeed.”

“He is a true jurist and I wish there were more judges like him.” 

On Judge Garland's judicial temperament

“It would be hard to imagine anyone who is better qualified on any metric. He has the perfect temperament for a judge; in fact, I do not believe you can find a person with a better temperament. He is extremely careful in analyzing issues and writing opinions, always producing carefully written, thoughtful and insightful opinions. I am proud of the President for naming someone who was not giving him any political points. He simply picked the best possible candidate.”

“He does not have an agenda. He follows the law. He applies the law to the facts.”

“I have been especially impressed by his graciousness and how he counsels other judges.” 

Today's statement from the American Bar Association comes 97 days after President Obama nominated Chief Judge Garland to the Supreme Court. It's long past time for the Senate to uphold its responsibility and consider Judge Garland's nomination.

The ABA unanimously gave Garland its highest rating. It's shameful that Senate Rs won't even give him a hearing. https://t.co/pzhH5mG7SO

— SCOTUS Nomination (@SCOTUSnom) June 21, 2016

As Press Secretary Josh Earnest said: "There is no question that the Senate has abdicated its responsibility under the Untied States Constitution. Since 1975, the average period of time for nomination by a president to confirmation by the Senate for a Supreme Court nominee has been 67 days. We're now approaching day 100. It's long past time for Senate Republicans to do their job and consider Chief Judge Garland's nomination." 

Learn more about President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Chief Judge Garland.
Read what distinguished public leaders and legal experts are saying about the President's nominee.

Read President Obama's moving tribute below, then watch the President reflect on some special mementos from the boxing legend.

Statement from President Barack Obama As Prepared
For the Funeral of Muhammad Ali
Louisville, Kentucky
June 10, 2016

It was 1980, and an epic career was in its twilight.  Everybody knew it, probably including The Champ himself. Ali went into one of his final fights an underdog; all the smart money was on the new champ, Larry Holmes. And in the end, the oddsmakers were right. 
 
A few hours later, at 4 a.m., after the loss, after all the fans had gone, a sportswriter asked a restroom attendant if he’d bet on the fight. The man – black, getting on in years – said he’d put his money on Ali.  The writer asked why. 
 
“Why?” he said. “Why?  Because he’s Muhammad Ali, that’s why.  Mister, I’m 72 years old. I owe the man for giving me my dignity.”
 
To Lonnie and the Ali family, President Clinton, and an arena full of distinguished guests – the man we celebrate today was not just a boxer, or a poet, or an agitator, or a man of peace.  He was not just a Muslim, or a black man, or a Louisville kid. He wasn’t even just “The Greatest of All Time.” 
 
He was Muhammad Ali, a whole greater than the sum of its parts. He was bigger, brighter, more original and influential than just about anyone of his era.  You couldn’t have made him up. And yes, he was pretty, too.
 
He had fans in every city and village and ghetto on the planet; he was feted by foreign heads of state; the Beatles’ British invasion took a detour to come to him. It seemed sometimes that The Champ was simply too big for America.
 
But I actually think the world flocked to him in wonder precisely because, as he once put it, Muhammad Ali was America.  Brash, defiant, pioneering, joyful, never tired, always game to test the odds.  He was our most basic freedoms – religion, speech, spirit.  He embodied our ability to invent ourselves.  His life spoke to our original sin of slavery and discrimination, and the journey he traveled helped to shock our conscience and lead us on a roundabout path toward salvation. And, like America, he was always very much a work in progress. 
 
We’d do him a disservice to gauze up his story, to sand down his rough edges, to talk only of floating butterflies and stinging bees.  Ali was a radical even in a radical’s time; a loud, proud, unabashedly black voice in a Jim Crow world. His jabs knocked some sense into us, pushing us to expand our imaginations and bring others into our understanding.  There were times he swung a bit wildly, wounding the wrong opponent, as he was the first to admit. But through all his triumphs and failures, Ali seemed to achieve the sort of enlightenment, an inner peace, that we’re all striving toward. 
 
In the ‘60s, when other young men his age were leaving the country to avoid the war or jail, he was asked why he didn’t join them.  He got angry.  He said he’d never leave – his people are here, the millions “struggling for freedom, and justice, and equality… I can do a lot to help, in jail or not.” 
 
He’d have everything stripped from him – his titles, his standing, his money, his passion, very nearly his freedom.  But Ali still chose America. I imagine he knew that only here, in this country, could he win it all back. So he chose to help perfect a union where a descendant of slaves can become the king of the world, and in the process, lend some dignity to all of us – maids, porters, students, maybe even an elderly bathroom attendant – and help inspire a young mixed kid with a funny name to have the audacity to believe he could be anything, even President of the United States. 
 
Muhammad Ali was America. He will always be America.  
 
What a man. What a spirit. What a joyous, mighty champion.
 
God bless The Greatest of All Time. God bless his family. And God bless the nation we love.

Transcript | mp4 | mp3